Info needed: C8A HUW J&J Restoration

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bert den Brok

And some additional information
20190817_150809 Data plates.jpg

"Order no LV 309" is listed as a contract placed by the Canadian government as CDLV 309 - see the full list of C8A contract here: Chevrolet Heavy Utility contracts. CD stands for Contract Demand, LV is thought to stand for Land Vehicles.
Here are two known serial numbers from that contract:

• 2844515234 ENGINE # FR3838709 L.V. 309 AUGUST 14 1942 [C-HU-441-M-WIRE1] Z 65-479
• 2844515470 ENGINE # FR3866568 ORDER L.V. 309 NOVEMBER 17 1942

I have not seen this type of data plate before. Are they copies of the original ones? The second plate should not be on a C8A, as the info relates to a C15A 4x4 truck.

[Bert den Brok]

Hello Hanno, it took a while but I am happy that I took the step to participate in the MLU forum. (my English is for what it is) The knowledge of Chevrolet and Ford CMP Vehicles still leaves a lot to be desired. I am often faced with a challenging surprise.

Hi Maurice, the fact that a diesel engine was installed in the past may explain the (many) cutting work on the chassis, frame and floor plates in the cabin area. The vehicle has changed color several times over the years. All in all I came across 4 different colors of paint.
However, on the chassis near the rear engine mounting I found, in my opinion, a reasonably traceable first layer of paint. This emerged after removing a thick layer of oil and grease.


Hi Ed, the lettering will be entirely in accordance with Toronto Scottish. The photos of this will follow soon. On older layers of paint I could not find any characters other than Toronto Scottish characters.
What I also cannot figure out is the meaning of “W/T” on the right front door. This was on the old visible layer of paint. However, I couldn't find anything on the first (bottom) layer of paint. On a layer in between there was only a “W” behind the W.D. Number.

Hanno, now you investigate the type plate on the dashboard.
This was the plate when I bought the HUW from Johan van Rijn. In addition, the two original plates as in the photo. I don't have any other type plate. This may have been removed at some point as a souvenir. I intend to have a NOS type plate printed with the correct information.

Assuming that the chassis number stamped on the chassis is decisive for me, I understand as you write that the Order Number (CD)LV 309 cannot correspond to the year of the chassis number? That should perhaps be (CD)LV 308.
If I look at the engine number on the nameplate (FR3891254), I think that the production date corresponds to the nameplate.
I also cannot determine the date on which the chassis number 2844------ (1942) changed to 3844------ (1943). So chassis numbers with 2844------ were also made in early 1943?
All in all, I think that all information is correct with the possible exception of Order Number 309.

Can anyone tell me at which chassis number LV 308 ended and at which chassis number LV 309 began?

Thank you for your positive responses.
Regards, Bert

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Bert den Brok

Hi Ed, the lettering will be entirely in accordance with Toronto Scottish. The photos of this will follow soon. On older layers of paint I could not find any characters other than Toronto Scottish characters.
What I also cannot figure out is the meaning of “W/T” on the right front door. This was on the old visible layer of paint. However, I couldn't find anything on the first (bottom) layer of paint. On a layer in between there was only a “W” behind the W.D. Number.

To be honest Bert, I have not looked into it too deeply and always thought that the W/T meant that the vehicle's electrical system had been supressed so that any radios fitted to the vehicle could be operated without any interference.

[Maurice Donckers]

Bert , the chassis number was not factory stamped in the frame , it was only on the ID plate on the dash.
About the collor , they where deliverred in 3 basic collors: dessert sand , service brown , and a brownish olive drab .
If they arrived in partly knock down, and got assembled oin the UK , they would be sprayed in Olive drab with cammo (mostly only the outside ) if you look at period pictures from storage aeria`s you will see they are in the same shade and cammo .
Late arrivals after D-day would be left in olive drab , and mosly stayed in the units uncamouflaged .

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

To be honest Bert, I have not looked into it too deeply and always thought that the W/T meant that the vehicle's electrical system had been supressed so that any radios fitted to the vehicle could be operated without any interference.

It was a generic abbreviation for 'Wireless Transmitting sets' going way back to WW1.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30005728

As Ed pointed out - it appears that in military speak - W/T was also used in a different context: to describe the electrical bonding of the metal components of aircraft and vehicles in order to lessen interference.

Some military vehicles had screened ignition systems , so maybe this was another reason for the W/T marking.

I have seen the following described in many older publications:

R/T = Radio Telephony (voice communication)

W/T = Wireless Telegraphy (CW mode: Morse)

So it depends on whether you say: Toomartow or Toomaytow

[Jordan Baker]

There was also S on many vehicles. This was for a “suppressed” ignition system that would reduce interference with nearby wireless sets.

The W/T was for vehicles with full shielding on the entire electrical system. All the wires would have been in the thinned braided copper wire loom.

[Bert den Brok]

Hello Maurice,
The stamped chassis number could indeed have been applied at a later date. I assume this is an original number. Also because there are various indications that justify the time of manufacture, including the dashboard, the overflow tank, reinforced rear chassis beams and the pattern of the floor plates.
By the way, I also found a stamped chassis number on a CGT that is yet to be restored.

Had decided not to do that for the time being with regard to the cammo painting. If necessary, it is always possible.

The colors inside (behind) were also a mixed bag. The base color was brown with white on top, then a dirty green color and then partly white and partly a light grayish color.
Now the walls and roof inside (behind) have become white. The floor, wheel arches and inside doors are brown like the exterior color. See picture.
What is missing from the photo are the cabinets against the side walls. I don't have enough information about this yet to make them. There is one seat too many, but I did that to possibly get more people on the license plate.

Hello Ed, Mike and Kelly,
Now I can understand why the letters “W/T” were on the vehicle. There was still a copper woven cable in the frame on the driver's side. From the starter motor to the ammeter. There was also a small part of this behind the dashboard. Other cables had to be replaced.
Measured on site and made in advance.
The lettering of the vehicle will still be adjusted with the letters “W/T”.

Thanks for your responses.
Regards, Bert

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello Bert,

It was good meeting you and your family again last September.

Here are some before & after photos of your lovely HUW with 30 years in between (found on the internet).

IMG_8906.jpg IMG_8904.jpg